Controlling Legal Costs
Divorce is as stressful as losing a job, the death of a loved on or any of life's other tragedies. It can also be extremely expensive. There are, however, things you can do to minimize both the emotional and monetary strain.
Like most law firms, Waters, Tyler, Scott, Hofmann & Doane, LLC charges a standard hourly fee to represent you in a family law matter including divorce. Many may think a lawyer's hourly rate sounds like a great deal of money, but that hourly rate includes all of the everyday costs necessary to maintain a law office (building, equipment, staff salaries, insurance, etc.). We believe our fees are reasonable and in line with other family law attorneys with similiar experience in southern Indiana.
If you were to engage us as your attorney in a divorce mater, you would be billed for the amount of professional time required to adequately represent your interests. This includes our paralegal's time spent talking with you on the phone, making initial drafts of the necessary court papers, scheduling depositions, organizing financial records and other essential matters. This would also include your attorneys time for meeting with you, taking depositions, preparing for and making appearances in court and negotiating with the attorney representing your spouse.
Every step of a divorce is time-consuming and detail oriented. Even the "simple" divorce requires action such as:
- Initial interview with client and review client information
- Drafting documents (summons, appearance, petition for dissolution of marriage, financial disclosure statement, property settlement agreement, qualified domestic relations order for distribution of pension proceeds, etc.)
- Once the spouse is served with divorce papers, he or she will most likely engage legal counsel
- The Respondent (the spouse served with the divorce papers) and his or her attorney will have 20 days to respond
- The negotiation/resolution process could now begin in earnest. The attorneys on each side would exchange financial information concerning the marital and non-marital assets and liabilities
- It may or may not be necessary to take the depositions of the husband and wife, yet it may even be necessary to take the deposition of people outside the marriage such as a doctor or accountant
- One of the attorneys will draft a property settlement agreement which will be reviewed by the other side. There will most likely be several meetings and telephone conferences to iron out the differences on who gets what. Hopefully, it will be possible to resolve this matter without the need for several hearings or a full-blown trial
- If the parties can agree, the property settlement agreement can be signed by everyone involved and filed with the Court
- The Judge may then ener the Decree of Dissolution of Marriage granting the divorce
When considering a divorce, you need effective and responsive representation. Contact the family law attorneys at Waters, Tyler, Scott, Hofmann & Doane, LLC -- (812) 949-1114. Weekend and evening appointments available; major credit cards accepted.
